Communication system, relay apparatus, control apparatus, server apparatus, control method, and information processing method

Abstract

A HEMS controller repeatedly transmits a predetermined signal to a control-target appliance at a set time interval in order to detect a change in a status of the control-target appliance. If the status changes, the HEMS controller notifies a smartphone of the changed status via a server apparatus. In a state where the time interval is set to a first time interval, when receiving a control instruction for controlling an operation of the control-target appliance from the smartphone via the server apparatus, the HEMS controller transmits the control instruction to the control-target appliance. In response to the transmission of the control instruction to the control-target appliance, the HEMS controller changes the time interval to a second time interval shorter than the first time interval.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication system comprising a terminal apparatus, a relay apparatus, and a control-target appliance,
 when said relay apparatus receives, from said terminal apparatus, a control instruction for controlling an operation of said control-target appliance, said relay apparatus is configured to set a transmission interval of repeatedly transmitting, in order to detect a change in a status of said control-target appliance, a polling signal to said control-target appliance to be shorter than a preset polling interval, 
 based on said change in the status having been detected, said relay apparatus is configured to provide said terminal apparatus with notification of said status having been changed, 
 
       wherein
 said relay apparatus includes a server apparatus and a control apparatus communicatively connected to said server apparatus, 
 said control apparatus includes:
 a first communication unit configured to repeatedly transmit said polling signal to said control-target appliance at said polling interval and transmit said control instruction to said control-target appliance when said first communication unit receives said control instruction from said terminal apparatus via said server apparatus, and 
 a second communication unit configured to provide, based on said change in the status having been detected, said terminal apparatus with the notification of said status having been changed, said notification being provided via said server apparatus, and 
 a setting unit configured to set said polling interval, 
 when said first communication unit receives said control instruction from said terminal apparatus via said server apparatus while said polling interval is set at a first time interval by said setting unit said setting unit sets said polling interval at a second time interval shorter than said first time interval, 
 
 said communication system includes a first appliance and a second appliance each as said control-target appliance, and 
 said second time interval differs between a case where said control instruction is for said first appliance and a case where said control instruction is for said second appliance. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said setting unit is configured to set said second time interval to differ between a case where a type of said control instruction for said first appliance is a first type and a case where said type of said control instruction for said first appliance is a second type. 
 
     
     
       3. The communication system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said server apparatus is configured to store data including identification information for said control-target appliance, said type of said control instruction, and said second time interval that are associated with one another, and 
 based on said first type of said control instruction for said first appliance having been received from said terminal apparatus, said server apparatus is configured to make reference to said data to provide said control apparatus with notification of said second time interval associated with the identification information for said first appliance and said first type. 
 
     
     
       4. The communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein based on said polling signal having been transmitted once at said second time interval, said setting unit sets said polling interval at a third time interval shorter than said second time interval. 
     
     
       5. The communication system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said control apparatus further includes a detecting unit configured to detect the number of transmissions of said polling signal until said change in the status is detected after said control instruction is transmitted to said control-target appliance, 
 said server apparatus is configured to store said second time interval, 
 said server apparatus is configured to change the stored second time interval using the detected number of transmissions such that the required number of transmissions of said signal to detect said change in the status again becomes less than the detected number of transmissions, 
 said server apparatus is configured to provide said control apparatus with notification of said second time interval having been changed, 
 based on said control instruction having been transmitted to said control-target appliance again, said setting unit is configured to set said polling interval at said second time interval having been changed, and 
 based on said polling signal having been transmitted once at said second time interval having been changed, said setting unit sets said polling interval at said third time interval. 
 
     
     
       6. The communication system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said communication system includes a first appliance and a second appliance each as said control-target appliance, and 
 said second time interval differs between a case where said control instruction is for said first appliance and a case where said control instruction is for said second appliance. 
 
     
     
       7. The communication system according to  claim 6 , wherein said setting unit is configured to set said second time interval to differ between a case where a type of said control instruction for said first appliance is a first type and a case where said type of said control instruction for said first appliance is a second type. 
     
     
       8. The communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein based on said control instruction having been transmitted to said control-target appliance, said setting unit is configured to set said polling interval at said second time interval. 
     
     
       9. A relay apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal apparatus and a control-target appliance comprising:
 a setting unit configured to set, when said relay apparatus receives, from said terminal apparatus, a control instruction for controlling an operation of said control-target appliance, a transmission interval of repeatedly transmitting, in order to detect a change in a status of said control-target appliance, a polling signal to said control-target appliance to be shorter than a preset polling interval, 
 a communication unit configured to provide, based on said change in the status having been detected, said terminal apparatus with notification of said status having been changed, 
 when said communication unit receives said control instruction from said terminal apparatus via a server apparatus while said polling interval is set at a first time interval by said setting unit, said setting unit sets said polling interval at a second time interval shorter than said first time interval, 
 said second time interval differs between a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a first appliance and a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a second appliance. 
 
     
     
       10. A control apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus and a control-target appliance comprising:
 a first communication unit configured to repeatedly transmit a polling signal for detecting a change in a status of said control-target appliance to said control-target appliance at a set polling interval and transmit a control instruction for controlling an operation of said control-target appliance to said control-target appliance when said first communication unit receives said control instruction from a terminal apparatus via said server apparatus; and 
 a second communication unit configured to provide, based on said change in the status having been detected, said terminal apparatus with notification of said status having been changed, said notification being provided via said server apparatus, and 
 a setting unit configured to set said polling interval, 
 when said first communication unit receives said control instruction from said terminal apparatus via said server apparatus while said polling interval is set at a first time interval by said setting unit, said setting unit is configured to set said polling interval at a second time interval shorter than said first time interval, 
 said second time interval differs between a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a first appliance and a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a second appliance. 
 
     
     
       11. A control method for a relay apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal apparatus and a control-target appliance, the control method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, from said terminal apparatus, a control instruction for controlling an operation of said control-target appliance; 
 when said control instruction is received, setting a transmission interval of repeatedly transmitting, in order to detect a change in a status of said control-target appliance, a polling signal to said control-target appliance to be shorter than a preset polling interval; 
 when said communication unit receives said control instruction from said terminal apparatus via a server apparatus while said polling interval is set at a first time interval by said setting unit, setting said polling interval at a second time interval shorter than said first time interval, 
 wherein second time interval differs between a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a first appliance and a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a second appliance. 
 
     
     
       12. A control method for a control apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus and a control-target appliance, the control method comprising the steps of:
 repeatedly transmitting a polling signal for detecting a change in a status in said control-target appliance to said control-target appliance at a set polling interval and transmitting a control instruction for controlling an operation of said control-target appliance to said control-target appliance when said control instruction is received from a terminal apparatus via said server apparatus; 
 providing, based on said change in the status having been detected, said terminal apparatus with the notification of said status having been changed, said notification being provided via said server apparatus; and 
 when said control apparatus receives said control instruction from said terminal apparatus via said server apparatus while said polling interval is set at a first time interval, setting said polling interval at a second time interval shorter than said first time interval 
 wherein second time interval differs between a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a first appliance and a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a second appliance. 
 
     
     
       13. A control apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus and a control-target appliance, comprising:
 a communication interface; and 
 a processor; 
 said communication interface is configured to:
 repeatedly transmit a polling signal for detecting a change in a status of said control-target appliance to said control-target appliance at a set polling interval and transmit a control instruction for controlling an operation of said control-target appliance to said control-target appliance when said first communication unit receives said control instruction from a terminal apparatus via said server apparatus; and 
 based on said change in the status having been detected, provide said terminal apparatus with notification of said status having been changed, said notification being provided via said server apparatus, 
 
 said processor is configured to set said polling interval, 
 when said communication interface receives said control instruction from said terminal apparatus via said server apparatus while said polling interval is set at a first time interval by said processor; 
 wherein said processor is configured to set said polling interval at a second time interval shorter than said first time interval; and 
 wherein second time interval differs between a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a first appliance and a case where said control instruction is for said control-target apparatus being a second appliance.